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The weekend is finally here! Tune in to this matchup between the Detroit Tigers and the New York Yankees to start your weekend off right! Don't forget to check out our MLB odds series, where our Tigers-Yankees prediction and pick will be unveiled.
Winners of five of their previous six games, The Tigers enter Friday night's play with a 21-30 record, which currently puts them in fourth place in the AL Central. The last time Detroit squared off with the Yankees, they defeated them back on April 22nd. On the bump trying to have a repeat of their win from more than a month ago will be RHP Elvin Rodriguez, who has yet to record a win or a loss but has a not ideal ERA of 6.17.
The Yankees remain one of the better all-around squads that baseball has to offer, as New York is 21 games above .500 at 36-15, including a 20-7 home record. Even with the second-place Blue Jays trying to make ground in the AL East on their current eight-game winning streak, the Yankees still hold a 5.5-game lead for first place in the division. Getting the start in this one will be New York ace Gerrit Cole, who is 4-1 with a 3.12 ERA.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Tigers-Yankees MLB odds.
MLB Odds: Tigers-Yankees Odds
Detroit Tigers: +1.5 (+134)
New York Yankees: -1.5 (-162)
Over: 7.5 (-112)
Under: 7.5 (-108)
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Why The Tigers Could Cover the Spread
Here comes Detroit! The Tigers enter play on a bit of a hot steak after starting off the year so poorly, and while they still sit nine games under .500, Detroit is still trending upwards as they travel to Yankee Stadium to face off with the best team in the American League. After beating the Twins a total of four times in five games during the past week, the Tigers will definitely be tested by the Yankees on Friday.
Against the Twins, Detroit outscored them 21-15 which included back-t0-back shutouts coming in 5-0 and 4-0 victories back on the 31st and 1st. A similar formula for success that would be vital in overcoming the Yankees will certainly be the game plan, as Detroit would want nothing more to come into Yankee Stadium with guns blazing.
At the plate, the Tigers have struggled mightily in finding production, as no team in baseball has scored fewer runs than Detroit in 2022. To make matters worse, the Tigers have hit the third-lowest average in the league at .223. The Tigers' recent scoring wave will have to be in full effect to put the pressure on the Yankees not only in this game but the entire weekend series.
Pitching-wise is where the Tigers are at their strongest, as they rank eighth in team ERA, fourteenth in total quality starts, sixth in WHIP, and are seventh in batting average allowed. The anomaly to the Tigers staff has been Rodriguez himself, who will be eager to turn his season around against a feared Yankees offensive attack. Rodriguez will only be making his third-ever career start against the Yankees.
Why The Yankees Could Cover the Spread
There are multiple ways the Yankees could cover the spread against the Tigers, as it is no coincidence that New York has recorded the most wins out of any team in North America. The Yankees have only been defeated in two of their past eleven games played, as their dynamic offense and un-hittable pitching have made it tough for opposing squads to come out victorious versus the Bronx Bombers.
Like any elite team, the Yankees have simply been dominant in their home ballpark, as they have been able to strike early and even give their pitchers some cushion with some much-needed runs in the later frames of contests.
With the ninth-most runs scored in the majors with 237 runners crossing home plate, the Yankees inflict most of their damage with the long ball and their ability to record extra-base hits. New York currently has a .417 slugging percentage, which is good for the second-best mark in baseball.
The biggest advantage the Yankees may have in this upcoming thrilling game is on the pitching mound. With the Tigers expected starter in Rodriguez obviously experiencing his fair share of struggles to begin his major league career, the Yankees should be able to have their way against a rather poor Tigers hitting lineup with Cole on the rubber. In his career, Cole has been a Tigers killer with a 6-1 record and a minuscule 2.17 ERA in ten career starts versus Detroit.
Final Tigers-Yankees Prediction & Pick
No doubt, the Tigers have played phenomenal baseball over the past week, but they are in for a whole other animal against the mighty Yankee. While Detroit may be a nice underdog pick, it would be wise to take the Yankees and the -1.5 run spread in this matchup.
Final Tigers-Yankees Prediction & Pick: Yankees -1.5 (-162)
